Electric filling-changing mechanism for looms.



No. 692,932, Patented vFeh.-l|, I902.

H. W. SMITH.

ELECTRIC FILLINGCHANGING MECHANISM FORLOOMS.

(Application filed Him. 30. 1900. (No ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet L No.692,932. Patented Feb. ll, I902.

H. W. SMITH.

ELECTRIC FILLING CHANGING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

(Application filed Mar. 30. 1900.) (No Model.) 4 $heets-Sheat 2,

1n: Nonms r-zrzas co. Puma-urns wAsHmcToN. a. c.

No. 692,932. Patented Feb. n, I902. H. w, SMITH. ELECTRFC FILLINGCHANGING MECHANISM FOR LODMS.

(Application filed Mar. 30 1900.)

4 Sheets- Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

10' a-s-e.s-: a? 4 jar wanw T: upnms FETERS on Pnmo-u'ruoq WASHINGTON.n. c.

N0. 692,932. Patented Feb. ll, I902.

- H. W. SMITH.

ELECTRIC FILLING CHANGING MECHANISM FOR LUONIS.

I Application filed Mar. 30, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheeIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. I: f

Tu: norms PETERS co. num'o-ufuo. mmnumu, a. c.

NITED STATES S'ATENT Fries.

HARRY IV. SMITH, OF NORTH GRAFTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC FILLING-CHANGING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SFECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,932, dated February11, 1902.

Application filed March 30, 1900. Serial No. 10.831. (No model.)

To all whom 2 2 may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY W. SMITH, of North Grafton, county ofWVorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inElectric Filling-Changing Mechanism for Looms, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to that class of loomswherein fillingchanging mechanism is employed to supply fresh fillingwithout stopping the operation of the loom, and more particularly tosuch looms employing shifting shuttle boxes. It has been heretoforeproposed in this class of looms to eifect a change of the filling whenthat in an active shuttle has become exhausted or broken; but in suchcases the operation of the filling-changing mechanism has been dependentupon a mechanically-operated feeler, which at suitable intervals wouldfeel for the filling and on detecting its absence would set in operationthe filling-changing mechanism. It has also been proposed in asingle-shuttlebox loom, or a' loom using only one character of filling,to anticipate the complete exhaustion of the filling in anactiveshuttle, at which time when only sufficient filling remained uponthe carrier tomake one or two picks electrically-controlled devices wereset in 0pcrntion to eject the nearly-depleted carrier and substitute afresh supply at the end of the same pick. 7

In the present invention I have sought to improve upon the class oflooms employing shifting shuttle-boxes, or those using diiferentcharacter or colors of fillings, by rendering the detection ofapproaching exhaustion of the filling in the active shuttle moresensitive by the use and adaptation of electrically-controlled devicescomprising two or more 0pposing contacts, which are held out of electricconnection so long as a sufficient supply of filling is present in theactive shuttle, but which upon depletion of the filling to a certainamount will come into electric connection and complete an electriccircuit, which in turn will set devices to be engaged by a moving partof the loom to effect the change of filling necessary. In adapting suchmechanism to a shifting-shuttle-box loom I haVe also found it desirableto delay the action of the filling-changing mechanism after theinlaidt'wo or more shots of filling, whereby sudden strains incident tothe quick action of the changing mechanism are avoided and the operationof the latter rendered more certain and positive.

\Vhile I have selected as the preferred embodiment of my invention aloom wherein as the filling in an active shuttle approaches exhaustionthe cop, bobbin, or carrier is ejected from the shuttle and a filledcop, bobbin, or carrier is substituted therefor, it is to be understoodthat my invention is not limited thereto, but is equally applicable to aloom wherein the shuttle is ejected as the filling approaches exhaustionand a filled shuttle is substituted.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of a loomembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of one end of the loom.Fig. 3 is a side view of the loom opposite that in Fig. 1. Y views ofdevices for controlling the operation of the filling-changing actuator.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the pivoted actuator-support orpositioning-bracket. Fig. 7 is a detail of the shuttle-box at thefilling-changing end of the loom, showing the shuttle in place and theelectric contacts. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a topview of one end of the shuttle,parts being shown in section; and Fig. 10is a top view of the same with the fillingcarrier in place.

I have shown in the drawings my invention as applied to the type ofshifting-shuttle-box loom provided with filling-changing mechanism asdisclosed in Patent No. 600,053, dated March 1, 1898, to which referencemay be had.

The loom-frame A, crank-shaft 0, having the gear 0 engaging a gear 0' onthe lower or cam shaft B, the latter having an arm provided with a studto, engaging intermittingly slotsin the master-Wheel D, the pinions cand d, the shafts c and 02 on which said pinions are splined, the saidpinions being fast on the shafts and having cooperating with themmovable teeth, which derive their motion through levers e rods e 9 andfingers a", resting upon Figs. 4 and 5 are detached detail apattern-surface e the lay I'I, connectingrods H, the shuttle-box rod n,having at its upper end a series of shuttle boxes, the shuttle-box leverE and rod 01 the brackets G, rock-shaft G, having two arms Gr G theformer being connected by link G with the shuttle-box lever E and thelatter arm G being connected to the rock-bar G the said link,rock-shaft, arms, rack and connected parts constituting means foractuating a systern of epicycloidal gearing for moving thefilling-feeder G backward and forward in unison with the rising andfalling movements of the shuttle-box, and the said epicycloidal gearingand its operating connection are and may be all as fully set forth insaid Letters Patent No. 600,053 and need not be more fully describedherein.

The filling-feeder is supported on a stud G extending horizontally fromone side of a stand G fixed to the breastbeam A of the loom-frame andsupports groups of fillingcarriers, the number in each groupcorresponding to the number of cells in the shifting shuttle-boxemployed. In the present instancethenumberofsuchcellsis two. Thereforethe number of filling-carriers in a group is likewise two, and by themechanism fully set forth in said Letters Patent No. 600,053 thefilling-feederis moved forward and backward as the shuttle-boxes change,so as to always present to the active shuttle a fillingcarriercontaining filling of the same character as that in the shuttle.

The transferrer 26 of the filling-changing mechanism, which may be ofany preferred constructionas, for instance, that set forth in saidLetters Patent No. GO0,053--is pivoted to oscillate on a stud 47 and isnormally held in position above or over the filling-carriers, asindicated in Fig. 1, by a spring 48, which, however, will yield undersuitable force to permit the transferrer to push afresh filling-carrierfrom the feeder into a shuttle and expel the carrier at the timetherein. Extending from the transferrer at its pivotal connection withthe stud 47 is the pendent arm 49, to which is pivotally connected at athe actuator a, the toe or of which is normally out of the path ofmovement ofa hunter 1), carried by the lay H; but when a filling is tobe changed the toe a is raised by means hereinafter described intoposition to be engaged by the hunter b and operate the filling-changingmechanism.

Mounted on the cam-shaft B is the facecam B, in the groove 1) of whichruns a pin or roller I), carried by the arm b of the lever B pivoted tothe loom-frame at b. To the other end of lever B is pivotally connected,preferably by a pin-and-slot connection b the upright or positioning armI), which under the influence of cam B and lever B is given a verticalreciprocation. It will be noticed in the present instance the gearingconnection between the cam-shaft B and crankshaft 0 is such that therewill be two beats of the lay to each full reciprocation of thepositioning-rod b From this construction it will be evident that shouldthe path of movement of the positioning-rod b be such that it will raisethe actuator into the path of the hunter b then such actuator will causethe filling-changing mechanism to operate to supply fresh filling; butso long as the positioning-rod reciprocates in a path as not to raisethe actuator the loom will continue to weave and the filling-changingmechanism will remain at rest. As it is desirable that the lattercondition shall maintain as long as there is a sufficient supply offilling in the active shuttle and that the former condition shall beinstituted only when the supply of filling in an active shuttle hasapproached exhaustion, sufiicient filling, however, still remaining inthe shuttle to lay two or more picks, I have placed the positioning-rodunder the control of the filling-detector, so that when a sufficientsupply of filling is present in the active shuttle the path of movementof the positioning-rod b will be such as not to raise the actuator, butwhen the filling in an active shuttle approaches exhaustion the path ofmovement of the positioning-rod b will be changed to cause the rod toraise the actuator into the position to be struck by the hunter 1), allas will presently appear.

The shuttle herein illustrated is of that general type wherein there isa passage through it from one side to the other in order that the filliug-carrier put into it at one side may be ejected from it at theopposite side, the said shuttle having suitable filling-carrier holders28 of such shape as to receive rings or projections 29 of thefilling-carriers 22, to thereby properly hold the filling-carriers inplace in the shuttle. Each filling-carrier is provided with an electricconductor 30, preferably in the.

form of a metal or other ring,though the form and character-of suchconductor maybe varied as desired. Attached to the shuttle and nor mallybearing upon the filling on the carrier when in place in the shuttle arethe detectors 31 and 32, which through the binding-screws 33 and 34 areelectrically connected to the contacts 35 and 36, preferably extendinglengthwise of the shuttle on the upper surface thereof in position to beengaged by the contacts37 and 38, secured to the lay I-I adjacent theshuttle-box. The detectors 31 and 32 are preferably formed of springmetal, so as to normally press toward each other and yet yield to theejection of the practically exhausted and entrance of the filledcarrier. Also the contacts 35 and 36 are preferably extended lengthwiseof the shuttle, so as topresent a more extending contacting surface forengagement with the contacts 37 and 38,whereby electric contact may bemade between them even though the shuttle may not be in exact positionin the box. By extending the contacts 35 and 36 from end to end of theshuttle electric connection with the contacts 37 and 38 may be made ateither end of the shuttle. The contacts37 and 38 are preferably formedof yielding character and are supplied with the adjusting-screws 39 and40, whereby their position. may be adjusted to cause them" to press withmore or less force upon the contacts 35 and 36 when the shuttle entersthe box. Connected with such contacts 37 and 38 by the binding-posts 41and 42 are the wires 43 and 44 of an electric circuit, which may deriveits electric energy from any suitable source not necessary toillustrate, and included in said circuit is the electromagnet 45 and itsarmature 46, normally pressed from the poles of the magnet by the spring50. The armature at its free end engages the positioning-rod b,which maythus freely reciprocate through the end of the armature, but is causedto move in a direction to and from the magnet on the making and breakingof the electrical circuit, as will be evident.

Pivoted to the actuator aat 0, preferably on the side thereof next theloom-frame, as more clearly indicated in Fig. 5, is the positioningbracket or support 0, (shown enlargedin Fig. 6,) which normally restsupon an adjustingscrew 0 Fig. 1, carried by the arm 0 of the bracket dProjecting from one side of the positioning-bracket c is the flange 0 onwhich the actuator normally rests, as will be seen in Fig. 5, andextending horizontally fromthe positioning-bracket below the said flangeis the ledge 0 which is adapted to be engaged by the positioning-rod bon its upward movement when the latter is drawn by the armature 46toward the magnet 45 on the completion of the circuit through thedetectors and contacts before described. The gear connection between thecrank-shaft and cam-shaft B is such, however, that the positioning-rodis moved its full stroke upward only on each second beat of the lay, andas the shuttle leaves the box immediately'after an indication ordetection of a practical exhaustion of filling and the circuit istherefore interrupted the positioning-rod would, under the stress of thearmature-spring 50, at once be moved out of the path necessary for it toengage the ledge c and lift the positioning-bracket and actuator if somemeans were not devised to prevent such movement. I have therefore giventhe positioning-rod a slight upward movement just before the shuttleleaves the indicating-box and have provided the ledge c with theretaining means or flanges c c", which will retain the positioning-rod 5under the ledge and cause it in its further upward movement to raise thepositioning-bracket and actuator into operative position, provided theshifting shuttle-boxesare not'changed when the practically depletedshuttle reaches its cell. Should this last contingency occur and theshuttle-boxes be changed to bring a shuttle having a suflicient supplyof filling or filling differing from that in the indicating-shuttle intoline with therace, it becomes necessary to suspend the operation of thefillingchanging mechanism until a subsequent return of the practicallyexhausted shuttle in positionto have its filling changed, and to thisend I have provided an. opening between the flanges c and 0 which, ifthe end of the positioning-rod is moved length- Wise of the flanges,will permit the armaturespring to assert itself and move the said rodoutward through the opening and from under the ledge 0 and consequentlyfail to position the actuator a to be engaged by the hunter b. To effectthis movement of the end of the positioning-rod b and place it under thecontrol of the shifting shuttle-boxes, the following mechanism'isprovided: Pivotally mounted upon the bracket (1 is the bell-crank leveror controller 01, having its slotted end d engaged by thepositioning-rod 12, so that while the said rod is free to move back andforth in the slotted end 01 of the controller cl it always remains inengagement with said slotted end (1 and may be moved thereby lengthwiseof the flanges c and 0 The other arm of the bell-crank or controller isengaged by an arm 01', projecting upward from the rock-shaft G, whichthrough the arm Gr and link G is moved from and in unison with thepositioning-rod b -into position such that on its upward movement itwill engage the ledge c of the positioning-bracketc' behind theretaining means or flanges c or c, and if the shuttle-boxes are notchanged on the arrival of the indicating or practically-exhaustedshuttle in its cell then the said rod will raise the positioning-bracketc and the actuator a to a position such that the end a of said actuatorwill be in position to be engaged by the bunter b on a subsequent returnof the practically exhausted shuttle to the V supply end of the lay.Should the shuttleboxes be changed, however, when theindicat ingor'practically exhausted shuttle reaches its cell therein, then themovement of said shuttle-boxes will through the rock-shaft G,

arm 01*, and controller cl move the end of the positioning-rod 1) intothe space between the retaining means or flanges c and c whereupon thespring-pressed armature will move the said rod through said space frombeneath the ledge 0 and the actuator a will not be raised and no changeof filling will take place. Since the positioning-rod b is a movingelement and it is desirable that the actuator to be held in properposition to be engaged bythe hunter 1), I have pivoted to thebreast-beam at f a bell-crank latch f,

the hooked end of which is adapted to engage a small flange f,projecting from the side of the positioning-bracket 0', while its otherend being sufficiently heavy to hold the hooked portion into position toengage the flange f will normally rest upon the breastbeam at f \Vhenheld up by the bell-crank latch f the actuator is in position to beengaged by the hunter, which will force the actuator and itspivotally-connected positioning-bracket toward the front of the lay, andsuch movement of the bracket 0 will carry the flange f clear of thehooked end) of the latch f so that upon the backward movement of the laythe actuator and positioning-bracket will drop into the lowered positionupon the supporting set-screw 0 In the form of loom herein disclosed Ihave shown the contacts 37 and 38 as provided on the single shuttle-boxside of the loom adjacent the filling-changing mechanism. Therefore thepractically exhausted shuttle after having indicated for a fresh supplyof filling will make at least two picks prior to having itsfilling-carrier changed, and a sufficient supply is provided on thecarrier for this purpose.

lVhile I have shown the above form of shuttle detectors and contacts andtheir connected parts as the preferred construction new con templated,it is evident that any form of such parts may be employed, it beingnecessary to the proper carrying out of my invention only that as thefilling on an active shuttle approaches exhaustion and while yet thereis sufficient remaining in the said shuttle to lay a plural number ofpicks that the detectors indicate this condition and through connecteddevices cause the positioning instrumentalities to place the actuatorfor the filling-changing mechanism in operative position. More over, myinvention is not to be understood as limited to the particular mechanismemployed and above described for moving the positioning-rod from underthe positioning-bracket ledge to thereby suspend the operation of thefilling-changing mechanism Whenthe shifting shuttle-boxes change afterthe reception of a practically exhausted shuttle from theindicating-box; but the invention is designed to and is to be understoodas embracing any form of devices which will place the opera tion of thefilling-changing mechanism under the control of the shiftingshuttle-boxes, nor is my invention limited to a two-box loom, as it isevident that any number of boxes may be employed, as desired, it beingnecessary only that the retaining devices or flanges on thepositioning-bracket for holding the positioning-rod in operativeposition after the interruption of the circuit due to thedetecting-shuttle leaving the indicating-box shall have openingtherebetween to permit the said rod to pass from under the bracket whenthe shuttle-boxes change. Likewise the character of the positioningdevices, including the positioning rod and bracket, may be variedWithout departing from my invention.

From the above it will be clear that I have provided ashifting-shuttle-box loom or one using different charactors or colors offilling and having filling-changing mechanism adapted to supply the.proper character or color of filling as that in an active shuttlebecomes practically exhausted, with means for controlling the time ofoperation of said filling-changing mechanism, said means beingcontrolled by an electric circuit, including an electroniagnet, and saidcircuit being normally held open by the presence of a sufficient supplyof filling in an active shuttle and adapted to close by the substantialabsence or exhaustion of filling therefrom, also that I have controlledthe time of operation of the changing mechanism, so that the shuttle maymake a plural number of picks prior to being replenished, and that Ihave also controlled the operation from the shifting shuttle-boxes in amanner to insure that the changing mechanism will operate only when theproper indicating-shuttle is in position to have its filling changed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. Inaloom the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a filling-changingmechanism to supply filling prior to complete exhaustion of the fillingin an active shuttle, means for detecting the near approach toexhaustion of filling in a shuttle, and means to operate thefillingchanging mechanism and cause it toact after IXC to operate thefilling-changing mechanism and practical exhaustion of the filling in anactive shuttle, an actuator for said mechanism, positioning devicesconnected to the shifting shuttle-boxes to move said actuator intooperative position.

5. In a loom the followinginstruinentalities,

viz: a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling prior to completeexhaustion of the [illing in an active shuttle andelectrically-controlled means to operate the filling-changing mechanismand cause it to act after the filling has been laid a plurality of picksby the nearly-exhausted shuttle subsequent to the detection of the nearapproach to exhaustion of the filling.

6. In aloom the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a filling-changingmechanism to supply filling prior to complete exhaustion of the fillingin an active shuttle, means for detecting the condition of the fillingin the shuttle, shifting shuttle-boxes, and electrically-con trolledmeans to operate the filling-changing mechanism and cause it to actafter the filling has been laid a plurality of picks by thenearlyexhausted shuttle subsequent to the detection of the near approachto exhaustion of the filling.

- 7. Inaloom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changingmechanism to supply filling on the practical exhaustion of the fillinginan active shuttle,shifting shuttle-boxes, and electrically controlledmeans connected to the shifting shuttle-boxes to control the time ofoperation of the filling-changing mechanism.

S. 'Inaloom the following instru mentalities, viz: a filling-changingmechanism to supply filling on the practical exhaustion of the fillingin an active shuttle, an actuator for said mechanism,electrically-controlled positioning devices connected to the shiftingshuttlehoxes to move said actuator into operative position. 1

9. Inaloom the followinginstrumentalities', viz: shifting shuttle-boxes,a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling on the practicalexhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, electrically-controlleddevices to cause said filling-changing mechanism to operate on asubsequent arrival of the shuttle in the box adjacent thefilling-changing mechanism, and connections between said devices and theshifting shuttle-boxes, whereby should the boxes be changed after anindication of practical exhaustion of filling in an active shuttle, thesaid devices are rendered inoperative.

10. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changingmechanism, an actuator for said mechanism, positioning devices for saidactuator, means, including an electric circuit extending through theshuttle, to place said'positioning devices into operative position on apractical exhaustion of the fillingin an active shuttle, and provisionsto cause the positioning devices to move the actuator into the path ofmovement of a part of the loom upon a return of the shuttle to the boxadjacent to the filling-changing mechanism.

11. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changingmechanism, an actuator therefor, positioning devices to move theactuator into the path of movement of a part of the loom, meansincluding an electric circuit extending through the shuttle to place thepath of movement of the hunter on a subsequent arrival of thepractically-exhausted shuttle in the box, and means for retaining theactuator in the path of movement of the hunter. g

13. A series of shuttl'eboxes, actuating means therefor, afilling-carrier feeder, means for moving the filling-carrier feeder inunison with the shuttle-boxes a transferring mechanism, actuating meanstherefor, anddevices connected to the shuttle-boxes for controlling theoperation of said last-named actuating means.

14. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changingmechanism, 'an actuator therefor,positioning devices to move theactuator into position to be struck by a moving part of the loom, meansincluding an electric circuit extending through the shuttle to placesaid devices in operative position on a practical exhaustion of thefilling in an active shuttle, and retaining means to hold the saiddevices in such position after the shuttle has left the box and theelectric circuit is interrupted to delay the operation of thefilling-changing mechanism until a subsequent arrival of said shuttle insaid box after practical exhaustion of the filling in the .ties, viz: afilling-changing mechanism, an

actuator therefor, posit ioning devices to move the actuatorintoposition to he struck by a moving part of the loom, means including anelectric circuit extending through the shuttle to place said devices inoperative position on a practical exhaustion of the filling in an activeshuttle, and retaining means to hold the said devices in such positionafter the shuttle has left the box and the electric circuit isinterrupted, shifting shuttle-boxes and means controlled therefromwhereby when the shuttle-boxes change the positioning devices are movedto assume their inoperative position.

16. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttleboxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for supplying filling of differentcharacters or colors to replace that practically exhausted, and meansfor controlling the time of operation of said filling-changingmechanism, and cause it to act after the filling has been laidaplurality of picks sub- I sequent to detection of the near approach toexhaustion of the filling, said means includexhaustion of the filling,said means being controlled by an electric circuit including anelectromagnet, and said circuit being completed by the substantialabsence of filling from an active shuttle.

18. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttleboxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for furnishing filling of differentkinds or colors to replace't-hat practically exhausted, and electricalmeans, controlled by the active shuttle, for controlling the operationof said filling-changing mechanism and cause it to act after the fillinghas been laid a plurality of picks subsequent to detection of the nearapproach to exhaustion of the filling.

19. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttle-boxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for furnishing filling holders orcarriers containing diiferent kinds or colors of filling to the shuttleto replace that practically exhausted, and electrical means controlledby the active shuttle to control the operation of the filling-changingmechanism and cause it to act after the filling has been laid aplurality of picks subsequent to detection of the near-approach toexhaustion of the filling.

20. In a loom, the followinginstrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttleboxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for supplying filling of differentkinds or colors to replace that practically exhausted, and means foractuating said supplying mechanism after a plurality of picks of fillinghave been laid subsequent to practical exhaustion, including a magnetand circuit extending from the magnet to a circuit-closing device, thelatter being controlled by the filling in the active shuttle.

21. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttleboxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for supplying filling of differentkinds or colors to the shuttle to replace that practically exhausted,and means for actuating said changing mechanism after a plurality ofpicks of filling have been laid subsequent to practical exhaustion,including a magnet and acircuit extending from the magnet to acircuit-closing device, the latter being controlled by the filling inthe active shuttle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY V. SMITH.

W'itnesses:

M. G. MATTHEWS, M. 'l. OOONNELL.

